Joyce Marie Schmidt

SCHMIDT, Joyce M. (Age 91) Entered into rest peacefully on September 15, 2014. She was born in Michigan, ND to Bert and Bell Swenseth on January 4, 1923. Joyce graduated from Michigan High School in 1940 with a graduating class of 13 students. Joyce went to Minot, ND for college and taught school in Michigan, ND prior to moving to Spokane, following her lifelong friend Marge Sims.

Joyce met the love of her life, Earl, at a social event after the war. They were married on September 27, 1946 and were married for 65 years prior to Earl’s passing in 2012. She worked in a dress store in downtown Spokane and for a local dentist before joining Alcoa where she worked for many years. Joyce stayed active in Melrose Lutheran Church in North Dakota. Joyce and Earl greatly enjoyed their years at Twin Lakes, Idaho where they opened their home and helped raised their many nieces and nephews. Joyce loved to play Bridge and enjoyed golfing. Joyce and Earl were snow birds in Yuma, AZ and had many close friends in the community. In the final years of her life, Joyce returned to her birthplace to be close to her brother, Richard, and the family farm.

Joyce stayed at the McVille Care Center and was treated with tender loving care. Joyce took pride in her appearance and the staff at the center helped her to maintain her standards. The family would like to thank the caregivers for the loving care they provided Joyce. In addition, Judy Twete would visit with Joyce and share her progress with family members that could not easily visit. Many thanks to Judy for providing those cherished updates.

Joyce is survived by her brother, Richard Swenseth and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl, and her parents.

Services will be held at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home at 11:30 am on Saturday, September 27, 2014. A reception will follow. Graveside services will be held at Fairmount Memorial Park cemetery at 1:30 PM.